Carers to have a say on local spending

The number of areas where people are given a direct say in how council money is spent is to more than double, the Government has announced.

Residents in a further 12 areas of the country will get the chance to access their own 'community kitty' to spend on tackling the issues they think are most important in their own neighbourhood.

Ten pilots for the scheme are already under way. Residents are getting a chance to have their say on funding priorities for their neighbourhood ranging from community wardens to tackle anti-social behaviour, new play areas for local children or better transport solutions.

They will now be joined by Thanet, Wiltshire, Dartford, Sefton, Cornwall, Lancaster, Mansfield, Suffolk, Leicester, Wirral, Reigate & Banstead and Buckinghamshire. All these councils have volunteered to work with residents so local people can take decisions on spending priorities for part of the council's budget.

To find out more visit the Department for Communities and Local Government website - more...